Written in the Stars

This song tells the story of the Aztec god Quetzalcoatl, the feathered serpent, who was exiled and will one day return to lead his people.

Instruments used: Korg Kronos.

Originally written in 1990.

One day I will return
It's written
One day you all will learn
It's written
And when I choose to go
It's written
Somehow you all will know
It's written
How can this be?
It's written
Yeah, can't you see?
It's written
It's written in the stars

Deceived by old Night-Wind
It's written
And banished 'cause I sinned
It's written
Well, I drifted to the east
It's written
But don't think that I'm deceased
It's written
I've sown my seed
It's written
The year one-reed
It's written
It's written in the stars

Chorus:
It's in the sun when it's rising
And below the horizon
Written in the stars
It's in the sky of the morning
And the heralds of warning
Are written in the stars

You'll know me by my guise
It's written
The feathered serpent's rise
It's written
In the predetermined year
It's written
That's when I'll reappear
It's written
I'm telling you
It's written
I always knew
It's written
It's written in the stars

Chorus:
It's in the sun when it's rising
And below the horizon
Written in the stars
It's in the sky of the morning
And the heralds of warning
Are written in the stars
It's in the change of the seasons
And the essence of reason
Is written in the stars
It's in the constellations
And the fate of the nations
Is written in the stars

It's been a long, long time
I miss my home so much
I'm hoping for a sign
But I'm so out of touch
I know I'm coming back
I don't care what they say
Just give me time to pack
Just give me one more day
If our lives are all predestined
Then it makes me ask some questions
It's the kind of thing that makes me wonder why
If the heavens know the way we stray
Why do people live from day to day?
The answers to the questions are in the stars up in the sky

Chorus

One day I will return
It's written (written in the stars)
One day you all will learn
It's written (written in the stars)
The heavens are the key
It's written (written in the stars)
They hold our destiny

Chorus

I'll Be Gone

I made this in the style of late 1980s rock to see if it was possible to use Korg's new opsix and wavestate mini-synths to complete an entire song. Both synths are reimaginings of things released in the 1980s.

I blogged about making music on these synths.

Originally written in 1989.

So you think there's nothing more to say
It's in your drawer, you've locked it all away
Well, I hate to disappoint you so
When you think you've got it right
So take this as a warning
When you wake up in the morning

[Chorus:]
I'll be gone, like a bird flown across the sea
I'll be gone, gone to where I wanted to be
I'll be gone, and when I'm gone, I'll be free

I remember when you told me to behave
Well, I've had enough of being your personal slave
And I suggest you don't try and stop me
Not unless you want a fight
And don't come running or crying to me
'Cause if you want my help, you know where I'll be

[Chorus]

So if you want to have someone to wait on you
Then you'd better get someone else, 'cause I'm through

[Chorus]

I'll be gone and when I'm gone, baby, I'll be free.

Sea Lady

A song of longing for something that everyone said was imaginary.

I like to use internal rhymes in my songs: it helps me to remember the words better, and (in my opinion) it helps the song to cohere better. I’m not sure that listeners usually notice, but I do.

Instruments used: Korg Kronos, Roland Integra-7, Korg opsix, Korg minilogue xd.

Originally written in 1992.

They say you’re an illusion
Of a sailor’s crazed confusion
You only have a foothold in some mythic fairytales
But I don’t share that notion
I just look to the ocean
To see the sunlight shine upon your scales

Sea lady, please hold me here in your arms
Sea lady, I’m hypnotized by your charms
Sea lady, my mind is clear of its sins
Sea lady, the world, it lies at your f—

Your face is just a vision
But you’re no apparition
I see you every morning as I make my daily grind
I get the inclination
To accept your invitation
To leave this washed-up world I see behind

Sea lady, you took my soul for a swim
Sea lady, my heart is out on a limb
Sea lady, I can’t control my desire
Sea lady, you turn the drought into fire
Sea lady, I carried you in my dreams
Sea lady, it’s just as good as it seems
Sea lady, you dance the blue like a veil
Sea lady, you always could shake a t—

You settle on the shingles at the threshold of the sea
You call me with the music that you sing so tenderly
I wander dazed across the sand, a captive of your wile
You knew full well that none on land could hook me with a smile

I hope that we can fashion
A life of endless passion
Away from this pedestrian parade

Sea lady, you’ve got me head over heels
Sea lady, I can’t explain how it feels
Sea lady, although they said to beware
Sea lady, I’m fallen, slain by your snare
Sea lady, you’re just content to be a
Sea lady, deep in my heart, i see ya
Sea lady, without consent I’ve been hurled
Sea lady, forever part of your world

Beggars Can't Be Choosers

I dislike the saying in this song's title. This was my attempt at defanging it.

Instruments used: Roland Integra-7, Korg modwave, Korg Kronos, MODO DRUM, MODO BASS.

Originally writter in 1989.

I got a car that’s nearly twenty years old
Won’t even start up when the engine is cold
I got a television old as can be
It’s black and white and only gets channel 3
The roof’s got holes in it, it lets in the rain
I gotta leave before it drives me insane
Someday I’d like to trade the lot of it in
By entering the lottery and hoping I win

I’d like a Lamborghini Countach 5000S
A stereo TV would be sufficient, I guess
I’d like a fancy mansion in the best part of town
But beggars can’t be choosers, I’ll endure it for now

I’d like a telescope to look at the stars
To view the surfaces of Venus and Mars
An ocean-going yacht would sure have its use
With its supply of beer and fresh orange juice
I wouldn’t mind a set of Ray-Bans to wear
It isn’t true when people say I don’t care
Some day I’d like to knock the lot of them flat
But when you’re unemployed it’s not as easy as that

And cosmic insignificance is causing me stress
The last time we went sailing I was sick on your dress
My glasses make me look as though I constantly frown
But beggars can’t be choosers, I’ll endure it for now

It’s not that I’m a dreamer
But I’m sure that helps
It may be just a fantasy
But maybe it’s just as well
Sometimes it just happens
It gets to my soul
I really shouldn’t worry
But it’s something I can’t control

I’d like to think possessions are the key to success
I’d like to fix society ’cause, god, it’s a mess
I’d like to buck the system that was holding me down
But beggars can’t be choosers, I’ll endure it for now

It’s not that I’m a dreamer
Though I’m sure that helps
It may be just a fantasy
But maybe it’s just as well
Sometimes it just happens
It gets to my soul
I really needn’t worry
But it’s something I can’t control